Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Pat on February 28, 2010 at 11:13pm

Oh, I can't believe I did that typo. Actually, it was a friend, not a fiend, who lives on Eastern.

Pat said:

Eastern site is still privately owned (Rose Corp & Smart Centres); they were launching an environmental assessment late in the fall, based on some info I saw from a fiend who lives down on Eastern, so who knows what their next plot is?

Judith said:

Is it just me who's wondering if the previous considered Eastern Avenue site is really out of the picture? I have this uneasy feeling the TTC may still 're-consider' Eastern Avenue over Ashbridges Bay after all. Anyone else feel that way too or is it just me? And on the subject of the Eastern Avenue site, anyone knows what's happening now that SmartCentres is not going to built there, or are they???

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Permalink Reply by Andre Gratton on March 7, 2010 at 8:39am

Grreat to see so many replies to this just not sure other than us who else is seeing this. If Paula Fletcher is a reader of this than this might just sink in. (but apparently after her last hissy fit at City Hall Meeting not sure she really cares....) If not it requires us to get to the meeting to voice our opinions about this site and the need to move it elswhere. Without expressions of opinions on site of the meeting, not sure that replies to this web site carry any weight...but one might hope so.

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Permalink Reply by Egg Flik on March 7, 2010 at 2:27pm

Why are you surprised? It is just one big cash grab. And nobody will get fired. The TTC is a fine example of lazy people doing very little, grabbing as much money as they can. The interesting part is that Torontonians don't get that. It's why privatization is on the table.

Anyway, back to the topic. Simply saying "we don't like it" isn't going to make it go away. Having Paula Fletcher sitting in City Hall saying "my ward doesn't want it" won't make it go away. Having a city of councillors all saying "not in my ward" is obviously what is going to happen. Then they'll choose what's logical for the yard, which seems exactly where it is being planned. Since nobody has provided any options that are reasonable, we can only expect them to go ahead as planned. This isn't rocket science. And it isn't about who is "representing" you. They are City representatives that collectively have to come up with options. Lakeshore & Leslie is the option they came up with, for a bunch of reasons. That's how decisions are made and this City moves forward.

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Permalink Reply by JM on March 7, 2010 at 4:45pm

Agreed, and again I'll remind people that not everyone commenting here thinks Ashbridges is an atrocity. If it's going in this vicinity, there are places that were suggested that would impact more residences. How do the Leslie Street residents who live between Queen and Eastern manage with the Greenwood buses that go to the postal plant until 2 am and starting again at 5, manage? Streetcars might well be (again, we don't know, they will be different than current ones) quieter than buses.

Scotch Egg said:

Why are you surprised? It is just one big cash grab. And nobody will get fired. The TTC is a fine example of lazy people doing very little, grabbing as much money as they can. The interesting part is that Torontonians don't get that. It's why privatization is on the table.

Anyway, back to the topic. Simply saying "we don't like it" isn't going to make it go away. Having Paula Fletcher sitting in City Hall saying "my ward doesn't want it" won't make it go away. Having a city of councillors all saying "not in my ward" is obviously what is going to happen. Then they'll choose what's logical for the yard, which seems exactly where it is being planned. Since nobody has provided any options that are reasonable, we can only expect them to go ahead as planned. This isn't rocket science. And it isn't about who is "representing" you. They are City representatives that collectively have to come up with options. Lakeshore & Leslie is the option they came up with, for a bunch of reasons. That's how decisions are made and this City moves forward.

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Permalink Reply by Egg Flik on March 7, 2010 at 4:53pm

OK, then I have to ask. Why are the tracks going up Leslie not logical?

The concerns are going to be there for any application of this yard, anywhere. The goal is then to minimize the impact. Part of that impact is the cost of such, which is an impact on everybody in the city. Essentially this probably comes down to 3 options:

1. Leslie Street streetcar access with minimal investment.

2. Cherry Street streetcar access with increased investment.

3. Coxwell Ave streetcar access with increased investment.

In other words, which is worth more? The investment of the options, or the problems encountered by the Leslie Street access?

A councillor's job is not to simply defend the wishes of the people in their wards. The City as a whole moves forward by implementing changes to infrastructure, not by defending individuals at City Hall. That's what City Hall does, and that's how politics work.

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Permalink Reply by Egg Flik on March 7, 2010 at 5:30pm

It just seems to me you're living in the wrong place. To expect nothing to happen to Leslie is a real stretch. Here's a prediction of the future: All of the Port Lands are going to be developed. You will see change. Now, you might not want to see any change, but the City will move on it. It might raise your property value. But don't expect no change.

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Permalink Reply by Egg Flik on March 8, 2010 at 12:18pm

I'm sure some of you have received the email from our Councillor. It indicates that the TTC is considering other routes for the streetcars, other than Leslie St. So, polish up your presentations, get onto Google Earth (excellent application), let the ideas flow. I'm sure we can come up with something they haven't.

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Permalink Reply by John L on March 8, 2010 at 12:39pm

As mentioned:

Dear Friends,

I am sending you a letter from Councillor Bussin and me outlining what steps we have taken to introduce track routes other than Leslie street for the new streetcars.

Working for you,

Paula
March 5, 2010


Dear Friends



We wanted to send you this update after the Open House and Meeting on the new TTC Light Rail Vehicle which was held at the Fire Academy on February 18th. Concerns were expressed by some in attendance that Leslie Street was shown as the only route to Queen Street from Ashbridges Bay. We have asked the TTC to look at other possible alternatives.



We have met with the TTC and the good news is that they have heard our concerns and are committed to working with us to determine and examine possible alternatives. The TTC will use criteria such as residential, financial, traffic and recreation impacts to determine alternatives and are preparing this information to present to you later in March.



We also heard a few other things on February 18th that we have asked TTC to address in upcoming community meetings. They include: why this site is required in the area; greening and design issues for Leslie Street and Lakeshore Blvd.E.; site preparation; noise and vibration from the new LRVs. These will be addressed over a series of meetings to be scheduled over the next few months.



The TTC will be officially notifying everyone who signed in at any of the four open houses of the date time and location of the upcoming meetings. A further notice and other special outreach in the immediate community, including businesses will be undertaken. Of course, we will also contact you with this information.



We are very pleased with the progress and the willingness of the TTC to work through these issues with the community; and will continue to work together to address your concerns. To receive regular updates or for more information on this project you can contact Lito Romano Tel: 416-397-8699 or email: lito.romano@ttc.ca or visit the project website: http://www.toronto.ca/involved/projects/lrv/





Yours truly,



Councillors Sandra Bussin (Ward 32) and Paula Fletcher (Ward 30)

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Permalink Reply by kellytoronto on March 8, 2010 at 1:22pm

How about a tunnel to Queen St. a la harbourfront? They could call it the Leslieville Subway.

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Permalink Reply by JM on March 10, 2010 at 4:02pm

Might be worth people's going to the project website and signing up to get updates directly from the TTC as well (the site is mentioned in the letter from Fletcher and Bussin). In the FAQ, it is pointed out that Leslie Street was designated as a streetcar route (of the future) in the 2002 Official Plan. So the TTC seems to be saying, don't blame us, we are only taking advantage of an existing plan, those streetcar tracks were going in sooner or later. That Official Plan could have been consulted, I suppose by potential homebuyers on Leslie St. (There's that living in the wrong place argument again). There are also some promises (vague, it's true) about soil removal, and explanations about the Connaught yard; it will be servicing some of the new cars as well, so I don't think we'll be getting rid of it anytime soon. And I know it's an anomaly in the area, but you have to hand it to the people, whoever they are, who do that terrific garden at the front!

Scotch Egg said:

I'm sure some of you have received the email from our Councillor. It indicates that the TTC is considering other routes for the streetcars, other than Leslie St. So, polish up your presentations, get onto Google Earth (excellent application), let the ideas flow. I'm sure we can come up with something they haven't.

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Permalink Reply by Dave on March 11, 2010 at 2:58pm

Scotch Egg said: So, polish up your presentations, get onto Google Earth (excellent application)

So I just fired up Google Earth.
How does this route sound?

New Street Cars:
.continue on Queen past Leslie over to The Connaught TTC Barnes

.turn right at the western end of the Connaught Barns going down through the Barnes to Eastern Ave. (tracks already in place)

.go west along Eastern Ave over to Knox Ave.

.turn south down Knox to Lakeshore Blvd - cross Lakeshore over to the new TTC site.

Might be less disruptive as this route is a mostly an industrial area.

and yes I live on Leslie below Queen. :)

Scotch Egg said:

I'm sure some of you have received the email from our Councillor. It indicates that the TTC is considering other routes for the streetcars, other than Leslie St. So, polish up your presentations, get onto Google Earth (excellent application), let the ideas flow. I'm sure we can come up with something they haven't.

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Permalink Reply by Egg Flik on March 11, 2010 at 5:55pm

Well that definitely is new. There are some issues though:

- disrupting Lakeshore where there's flow.
- Turning at Eastern & Knox: Residential in North side
- 3 turns as opposed to 1: Problems arise at turns

If the Postal site wasn't there, we'd be golden. Due to that fact, I see anywhere East of Cherry Street facing this issue. If Leslie poses a problem, then all of them do. It's that turn onto Queen that will get you.

I saw that there is a roundabout on Cherry Street just South of Mill Street. Getting the cars there would mean some large options, seeing that Front Street is the next street up. It's all empty land down there. Here are the positives:

- Can continue North on Cherry to King Street which has an alleviated right turn. This can service Queen & King cars with a 45° turn as opposed to 90.

- this intersection has an island, so perhaps a wide turn to King West can be incorporated

- just East of that intersection is River Street, which might take a run North to service Queen West, Dundas West, and Gerrard West lines.

Either that or over to Coxwell somehow. Across Lakeshore and up Woodfield Road, which would mean a turn there, with residential at that corner as well.

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